Combined boot or shoe tree and top-stretcher



No. 615,002. Patented Nov. 29, |898. A. D. TYLER, JR.

COMBINED BDOT 0R SHOE TREE AND TOP STRETCHER.

(Application med mr. 2e, 189s.;

No. 6I5,002. Patented Nov. 29, |898. A. D. TYLER, 1H. COMBINED BOOT 0RSHOE TREE AND TDP STRETCHER.

(Application filed Mar. 26, 1898.-)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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PATENT ABEL D. TYLER, JR., OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming* part of Letters Patent N0. 615,002, dated.November 29, 18,98. ApplicatiouledMarch 26,1898. Serial No. 675,343. (Nomodel.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ABEL D. TYLER, J r., of Brockton, in the county ofPlymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in aCombined Boot'or Shoe Tree and Top-Stretcher, of which the following isa specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation,and Fig. 2 a top plan view, of one form of my invention. Fig. 3 is asectional view in line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. tshowsaslight modification ofthe means for engaging the upper front corners of a lace-shoe top. Fig.5 shows my invention adapted for use on button-boots. Figs. 6, 7, and 8show modifications, Fig. 7 being a sectional view on line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

The object of my invention is to mechanically stretch a shoe-topupwardly and forwardly on the tree. Heretofore this work has been doneby hand, the operator seizing an upper fore corner of the top andpulling it tight on the tree while ironing or treeing the top. Havingfinished one side or ankle portion of the top, the operator then seizesthe other upper fore corner of the top and pulls the top upwardly andforwardly of the tree. This handwork is objectionable both on account ofthe inconvenience of holding the top corners by one Ahand while applyingthe iron with the other hand, and on account of the unequal stretchsometimes imparted to the top which is set in shape by the ironing ortreeing, and on account of the ineffectual removal of the wrinkles,which frequently reappear, sometimes before leaving the factory andsometimes later.

j In the drawings illustrating the principle of my invention and thebest mode now known to nie of applying that principle, Aisa boottree ofknown construction and is one of the multitudinous forms of suchapparatus.

B is my new top-stretcher, such a device being wholly new with me bothof itself and in combination with the tree. In this present constructionstretcher B is made up of a Y- shaped piece the arms b b of whichstraddle leg ct of the tree and are pivoted thereto, the free ends ofthe arms Z) b extending toeward of leg a. Shank b of this Y-shaped pieceis chambered lengthwise and provided with an endwise -movable tooth b2,which projects slightly between the arms b b and is adapted to engagethe opposed serrations a on the rear of leg a. The shank b3 of tooth issurrounded by a coiled spring b4, which holds tooth b3 normally inengagement with a serration a to lock the stretcher in fixed relation tothe tree. Spring t4 is mounted between projection 225 of shank b3 andthe outer end b of the chambered shank b. The outer end of thetooth-shank b2 projects from the chambered shank, and a pull thereonunlocks the tooth from the serrations, so that the free ends of the armso t may be swung toward or away from the ankle and instep portions ofthe tree. The free ends of the arms b b are each provided with anextension b?, preferably in the form of a coiled spring, and the freeend of each extension o7 is provided with a suitable device b8 forconnection with the upper front corner of a lace-shoe. In Figs. l and 2this device is a ring adapted to engage the lacing-hook on the lace-shoex; but where lacing-eyelets are used instead of lacing-studs the devicebs may take the form of a hook adapted to hook into the eyelet.

If desired, a suitable clamp-such, for eX- aniple, as an ordinarynecktie or garter claspmay be substituted for the ring or hook form ofdevice bs,- but where such a clamp or clasp is used it is best to faceits jaws with rubber or the like to prevent abrasion of the tops. Anyother desired form of device o8 may be used. When a lace-shoe is on thetree, the devices 58 are connected to the upper front corners of thetops x2. The shank of the stretcher is then pressed toward the heel ofthe tree, and the tops .r2 thereby stretched forwardly and upwardly overthe ankle and side portions of the tree and smoothly over the tree aboveits heel portion. The mode of stretching of the leather smooths out theleather uniformly on both sides at the same time and pulls out theheavier'l wrinkles commonly occurring at the junction of the tops withthe rearwardly-extending wings x3 of the vamp at and near 034. Thusstretched the top is ready to be rubbed with the hot iron or otherdevice. The workman now has both hands free and labors to betteradvantage than heretofore and the top is stretched more uniformly andthoroughly than heretofore, and the stretching and ironing are moreefficacious than heretofore in preventing the return of the wrinkles andpreserving the tops in correct shape.

The stretcher B may be combined in various ways with the different formsof boot-trees for many years in common use, and I do not intend to limitmy invention to any particular embodiment.

In Fig. 5, Where the shoe is a button-shoe and one portion of the toplaps over the instep, the device bs is a clasp made up of therubberfaced jaws l and 2, jaw 2 being in the form of a lever.

It is sometimes desirable to pull the tops upwardly at more than onepoint, and while more than one extension 67 may be carried by -thepivoted Y-shaped lever Z) I may sometimes employ the reciprocating frameQ, as shown in the modications of Figs. G, 7, and S. llerein frame Q hasa central enlargement encircling the leg of the boottree withdiametrically-opposed chambered wings q q, each containing aspring-controlling tooth, which engages opposed serrations q on the legof the boot-tree. Leg a is provided with guideways Q2 q2, one on eachside of the leg, and in these guideways the inwardly-projecting pins offrame Q slide when the frame is adjusted by manipulating the springcontrolled teeth. Any desired number of clamp-carriers Q' may beattached to frame Q, the clamps (of any desired form) being connectedwith the shoe; tops. By sliding frame Q upwardly the tops are stretchedat one or more desired points.

1. The combination of a boot or shoe tree with a stretcher which isprovided with means to engage a shoe-top, said means being movableforwardly and upwardly away from the ankle portion of the tree.

2. The combination with a boot or shoe provided with a serrated surfaceof a stretcher pivoted on the leg portion of the tree and provided withspring extensions and thereto connected top engaging devices, and with aspring-controlled tooth which engages said serrations.

3. rlhe combination of a boot or shoe tree with an adjustable framemounted on the tree, above the foot portion of the tree, and movable inrelation to said foot portion; and a device, carried by said frame, forconnecting the frame with a hoot or shoe upper.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciiication, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 9th day of Marcil, A. D.1898.

ABEL D. TYLER, JR.

vitnessesz EDWARD S. BEACH, E. A. ALLEN.

